Gerry Flynn
@geraldrflynn.bsky.social
Journalist for Mongabay in Bangkok covering SEA
No longer welcome in Cambodia
Proud cat-dad, sucker for lost causes, keen to know all the fresh hell happening in Southeast Asia and beyond
No longer welcome in Cambodia
Proud cat-dad, sucker for lost causes, keen to know all the fresh hell happening in Southeast Asia and beyond
Pinned
Gerry Flynn
@geraldrflynn.bsky.social
· Oct 14
Angkor Plywood, the ‘timber cartel’ shipping Cambodian forests internationally
Several Cambodian journalists contributed to this report, but have requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the story. STUNG TRENG, Cambodia — Rare timber species likely logged from Cambodia...
news.mongabay.com
Our year-long investigation for @mongabay.bsky.social found that Cambodia's forests have been logged illegally and shipped internationally by "timber cartel" Angkor Plywood.
Many brave Cambodian journalists worked on this with me, but the illegal timber trade is a risky one here.
Pt. 2 coming soon
Many brave Cambodian journalists worked on this with me, but the illegal timber trade is a risky one here.
Pt. 2 coming soon
#Thailand's air pollution problem partly stems from debt-saddled farmers conducting agricultural burnoffs to sustain the meat industry.
One district banned maize farming to curb deforestation and PM2.5 pollution, only for a coal mining company to grab their land.
Read my latest on @mongabay.com
One district banned maize farming to curb deforestation and PM2.5 pollution, only for a coal mining company to grab their land.
Read my latest on @mongabay.com
Karen community fighting corn and coal for clean air in northern Thailand
MAE CHAM/OMKOI, Thailand — Rain lashed down in the northern Thai village of Nong Krating as Sawattiphon Wongkasettakon described the worsening air pollution that sweeps in through the mountains here e...
news.mongabay.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:41 AM
#Thailand's air pollution problem partly stems from debt-saddled farmers conducting agricultural burnoffs to sustain the meat industry.
One district banned maize farming to curb deforestation and PM2.5 pollution, only for a coal mining company to grab their land.
Read my latest on @mongabay.com
One district banned maize farming to curb deforestation and PM2.5 pollution, only for a coal mining company to grab their land.
Read my latest on @mongabay.com
Restrictions on civil society means rare earth mining in Laos has garnered less attention than Myanmar, but @stimsoncenter.bsky.social data show 27 new (likely illegal) mines opened along Mekong River tributaries since 2022.
Latest @mongabay.com report details the threat to freshwater ecosystems.
Latest @mongabay.com report details the threat to freshwater ecosystems.
Rare earth mining expands into Laos, threatening entire Mekong River
BANGKOK — New data show a recent proliferation of rare earth mines across river basins in Laos, potentially posing a transboundary water pollution threat to Vietnam and the entire Mekong River system....
news.mongabay.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Restrictions on civil society means rare earth mining in Laos has garnered less attention than Myanmar, but @stimsoncenter.bsky.social data show 27 new (likely illegal) mines opened along Mekong River tributaries since 2022.
Latest @mongabay.com report details the threat to freshwater ecosystems.
Latest @mongabay.com report details the threat to freshwater ecosystems.
Latest on @mongabay.com - research by @stimsoncenter.bsky.social finds more rare earth mines across Myanmar's river basins than previously known, 513 opened along the Irrawaddy, Salween and Mekong basins in the last decade.
Unchecked, these mines pose a transboundary threat to the region's rivers.
Unchecked, these mines pose a transboundary threat to the region's rivers.
More Thai rivers and downstream communities at risk from Myanmar’s rare earth mines
BANGKOK — New satellite data identified 513 sites of rare-earth mining that have cropped up across at least six key tributaries of the Mekong, Salween and Irrawaddy rivers in Myanmar over the past 10 ...
news.mongabay.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Latest on @mongabay.com - research by @stimsoncenter.bsky.social finds more rare earth mines across Myanmar's river basins than previously known, 513 opened along the Irrawaddy, Salween and Mekong basins in the last decade.
Unchecked, these mines pose a transboundary threat to the region's rivers.
Unchecked, these mines pose a transboundary threat to the region's rivers.
Reposted by Gerry Flynn
It's kind of wild that a species that's recently been as common as the long-tailed macaque is now endangered. Especially as a driver of their decline is laundering wild monkeys for biomedical testing as captive-bred, and lobbyists have been trying to get their protection downgraded.
This sucks.
This sucks.
Depressing that the IUCN's confirmation that an endangered species is in fact endangered is the closest thing I can provide to "good news."
Latest for @mongabay.com shows how a concerted effort by the biomedical research lobby to downgrade the IUCN listing of long-tailed macaques has failed.
Latest for @mongabay.com shows how a concerted effort by the biomedical research lobby to downgrade the IUCN listing of long-tailed macaques has failed.
IUCN upholds long-tailed macaques’ endangered status after complaint
BANGKOK — The long-tailed macaque will remain on the Red List of the IUCN, the global wildlife conservation authority, despite objections from the biomedical industry arguing the designation hampers r...
news.mongabay.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:49 AM
It's kind of wild that a species that's recently been as common as the long-tailed macaque is now endangered. Especially as a driver of their decline is laundering wild monkeys for biomedical testing as captive-bred, and lobbyists have been trying to get their protection downgraded.
This sucks.
This sucks.
Depressing that the IUCN's confirmation that an endangered species is in fact endangered is the closest thing I can provide to "good news."
Latest for @mongabay.com shows how a concerted effort by the biomedical research lobby to downgrade the IUCN listing of long-tailed macaques has failed.
Latest for @mongabay.com shows how a concerted effort by the biomedical research lobby to downgrade the IUCN listing of long-tailed macaques has failed.
IUCN upholds long-tailed macaques’ endangered status after complaint
BANGKOK — The long-tailed macaque will remain on the Red List of the IUCN, the global wildlife conservation authority, despite objections from the biomedical industry arguing the designation hampers r...
news.mongabay.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Depressing that the IUCN's confirmation that an endangered species is in fact endangered is the closest thing I can provide to "good news."
Latest for @mongabay.com shows how a concerted effort by the biomedical research lobby to downgrade the IUCN listing of long-tailed macaques has failed.
Latest for @mongabay.com shows how a concerted effort by the biomedical research lobby to downgrade the IUCN listing of long-tailed macaques has failed.
Our latest data analysis shows nearly 1 million Ha of tree cover was lost across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam in 2024.
Nearly a quarter of this was primary forest, but - more alarming - ~30% of tree cover losses occurred inside protected areas. Read the breakdown on @mongabay.com
Nearly a quarter of this was primary forest, but - more alarming - ~30% of tree cover losses occurred inside protected areas. Read the breakdown on @mongabay.com
Protected areas hit hard as Mekong countries’ forest cover shrank in 2024
BANGKOK — The Mekong countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam lost a combined area of tree cover of nearly a million hectares in 2024, or an area almost the size of Lebanon. That’s a...
news.mongabay.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Our latest data analysis shows nearly 1 million Ha of tree cover was lost across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam in 2024.
Nearly a quarter of this was primary forest, but - more alarming - ~30% of tree cover losses occurred inside protected areas. Read the breakdown on @mongabay.com
Nearly a quarter of this was primary forest, but - more alarming - ~30% of tree cover losses occurred inside protected areas. Read the breakdown on @mongabay.com
First in a series for @mongabay.com on #Thailand's air pollution looks at the Mae Moh coal plant and mine - which despite having killed people, polluted waterways and devastated an ecosystem, saw 2 of its older units' lifespans extended. NO2, mercury & more for all
news.mongabay.com/2025/10/angu...
news.mongabay.com/2025/10/angu...
Anguish for residents as Thailand’s most polluting coal plant gets new lease of life
MAE MOH, Thailand — Thailand has announced it will delay the decommissioning of several coal-fired units at the 2,400-megawatt Mae Moh power plant in Lampang province, prompting fears among communitie...
news.mongabay.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:34 AM
First in a series for @mongabay.com on #Thailand's air pollution looks at the Mae Moh coal plant and mine - which despite having killed people, polluted waterways and devastated an ecosystem, saw 2 of its older units' lifespans extended. NO2, mercury & more for all
news.mongabay.com/2025/10/angu...
news.mongabay.com/2025/10/angu...
#Cambodia is set to destroy ~7,300 Ha of protected forest in the Cardamoms by building a new irrigation dam. The dam will deprive upstream communities of water, clear forest slated for a REDD+ project & disrupt river systems feeding into the Tonle Sap Lake.
Latest from me for @mongabay.com
Latest from me for @mongabay.com
Cambodian irrigation dam construction threatens riverine communities in the Cardamoms
BANGKOK — Forest clearance has begun to make way for a new irrigation dam deep in the heart of the Cardamom Mountains, in Cambodia’s western province of Pursat, Mongabay has learned. The dam, which of...
news.mongabay.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:44 AM
#Cambodia is set to destroy ~7,300 Ha of protected forest in the Cardamoms by building a new irrigation dam. The dam will deprive upstream communities of water, clear forest slated for a REDD+ project & disrupt river systems feeding into the Tonle Sap Lake.
Latest from me for @mongabay.com
Latest from me for @mongabay.com
Joint investigation by @mongabay.com & GI-TOC exposes a huge illegal wildlife trade network in Laos.
Secretive shops guarded by armed men cater exclusively to Chinese tourists selling ivory, rhino horn, pangolins & more at inflated prices. We took a look inside..
news.mongabay.com/2025/07/larg...
Secretive shops guarded by armed men cater exclusively to Chinese tourists selling ivory, rhino horn, pangolins & more at inflated prices. We took a look inside..
news.mongabay.com/2025/07/larg...
Large-scale illegal wildlife shops in Laos found scamming Chinese tourists
LUANG PRABANG, Laos — “No coffee, no coffee,” repeated the security guard. His smile stood in stark contrast to his faded camouflage fatigues and the machine gun slung over his shoulder. Few cafés in ...
news.mongabay.com
July 22, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Joint investigation by @mongabay.com & GI-TOC exposes a huge illegal wildlife trade network in Laos.
Secretive shops guarded by armed men cater exclusively to Chinese tourists selling ivory, rhino horn, pangolins & more at inflated prices. We took a look inside..
news.mongabay.com/2025/07/larg...
Secretive shops guarded by armed men cater exclusively to Chinese tourists selling ivory, rhino horn, pangolins & more at inflated prices. We took a look inside..
news.mongabay.com/2025/07/larg...
We spent some time out at the Thai-Myanmar border for @mongabay.com looking at the potential impacts of planned dams and infrastructure that would disrupt the Salween River, Asia's longest free-flowing river (for now). Countless Karen communities would lose access to the water that sustains them...
Specter of dams and diversion looms over Southeast Asia’s Salween River
MAE HONG SON, Thailand — The shores of Myanmar became visible from Sob Moei village in northeastern Thailand as the morning mist rises over the Salween River, the flowing water the only border between...
news.mongabay.com
June 19, 2025 at 4:01 AM
We spent some time out at the Thai-Myanmar border for @mongabay.com looking at the potential impacts of planned dams and infrastructure that would disrupt the Salween River, Asia's longest free-flowing river (for now). Countless Karen communities would lose access to the water that sustains them...
First #Thailand story for @mongabay.com looks at what feels like a familiar topic: a Chinese-funded mining company risks displacing ethnically Karen communities in Mae Hong Son.
The company's old mine poisoned the community's river, but this time, the Karen villagers are keeping the mine at bay.
The company's old mine poisoned the community's river, but this time, the Karen villagers are keeping the mine at bay.
Mining company returns to haunt Thailand’s Karen communities as resistance mounts
MAE HONG SON, Thailand — The flashlight bouncing off the cave walls stopped abruptly as Sakda Khayankitphuanphon came to a halt in the dark. Scarcely 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from Sakda’s home in Huay...
news.mongabay.com
June 4, 2025 at 2:36 AM
First #Thailand story for @mongabay.com looks at what feels like a familiar topic: a Chinese-funded mining company risks displacing ethnically Karen communities in Mae Hong Son.
The company's old mine poisoned the community's river, but this time, the Karen villagers are keeping the mine at bay.
The company's old mine poisoned the community's river, but this time, the Karen villagers are keeping the mine at bay.
A solid team effort from @mongabay.com examining the impact of the Trump's administration's cuts to USAID and conservation funding on the global illegal wildlife trade.
'The traffickers are going to have more space to operate, and it’s just going to put these species back on a path of extinction.'
'The traffickers are going to have more space to operate, and it’s just going to put these species back on a path of extinction.'
Wildlife crime crackdown in jeopardy worldwide after US funding cuts
In 2019, Malawi registered a massive win in the fight against the illegal wildlife trade. Intelligence-driven operations culminated in the arrest of more than a dozen members of the Chinese-led “Lin-Z...
news.mongabay.com
May 22, 2025 at 5:49 AM
A solid team effort from @mongabay.com examining the impact of the Trump's administration's cuts to USAID and conservation funding on the global illegal wildlife trade.
'The traffickers are going to have more space to operate, and it’s just going to put these species back on a path of extinction.'
'The traffickers are going to have more space to operate, and it’s just going to put these species back on a path of extinction.'
For @mongabay.com w. Nehru Pry: the case of Ouk Mao, an environmental journalist in #Cambodia whose reporting on forest crimes has seen him physically attacked, ignored by the police and sued by the government.
His family had to move out after an anonymous caller threatened to burn down his home.
His family had to move out after an anonymous caller threatened to burn down his home.
Attacks on Cambodian environmental journalist continue to pile up
BANGKOK — Ouk Mao, a Cambodian environmental journalist, was reporting on the continued logging of Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary when he was attacked on March 24 by a group of men he identified, includ...
news.mongabay.com
May 12, 2025 at 7:11 AM
For @mongabay.com w. Nehru Pry: the case of Ouk Mao, an environmental journalist in #Cambodia whose reporting on forest crimes has seen him physically attacked, ignored by the police and sued by the government.
His family had to move out after an anonymous caller threatened to burn down his home.
His family had to move out after an anonymous caller threatened to burn down his home.
Latest from me for @mongabay.com published late last week - #Cambodia's Supreme Court denied bail to incarcerated Mother Nature Cambodia activists. The five young environmentalists are set to remain behind bars until 2030 (and 2032 in one case) after being charged with plotting to overthrow the govt
Mother Nature Cambodia activists denied bail by Supreme Court
BANGKOK — On the morning of April 30, Cambodia’s Supreme Court denied bail to five environmental activists from Mother Nature Cambodia who are currently facing prison sentences ranging from six to eig...
news.mongabay.com
May 5, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Latest from me for @mongabay.com published late last week - #Cambodia's Supreme Court denied bail to incarcerated Mother Nature Cambodia activists. The five young environmentalists are set to remain behind bars until 2030 (and 2032 in one case) after being charged with plotting to overthrow the govt
In 2024, #Cambodia banned mining companies from expanding operations in Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, but in January, the government approved construction of a cement factory inside the protected forest.
My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social explores the impacts of industrializing a rainforest.
My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social explores the impacts of industrializing a rainforest.
Cement factory approved inside Cambodia’s Prey Lang sanctuary despite mining ban
KRATIE, Cambodia — The Cambodian government has signed off on the construction of a new cement factory deep inside Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, with the factory expected to source limestone for cemen...
news.mongabay.com
April 28, 2025 at 4:42 AM
In 2024, #Cambodia banned mining companies from expanding operations in Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, but in January, the government approved construction of a cement factory inside the protected forest.
My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social explores the impacts of industrializing a rainforest.
My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social explores the impacts of industrializing a rainforest.
Reposted by Gerry Flynn
This isn’t particularly useful but, well, I hear from a lot of people from the science-centered agencies these days (NIH, NOAA, EPA, couple others) and the degree of, I dunno, grimness (?) is really palpable. The whole gov scientific enterprise is just getting ground into dust. It sucks so hard.
April 23, 2025 at 3:07 AM
This isn’t particularly useful but, well, I hear from a lot of people from the science-centered agencies these days (NIH, NOAA, EPA, couple others) and the degree of, I dunno, grimness (?) is really palpable. The whole gov scientific enterprise is just getting ground into dust. It sucks so hard.
Part two for @mongabay.bsky.social - we look at how monkey smugglers in #Thailand are likely supplying long-tailed macaque breeding farms in #Laos.
Despite a trade ban from CITES preventing Laos from exporting monkeys, breeding facilities there are expanding rapidly and the numbers don't add up.
Despite a trade ban from CITES preventing Laos from exporting monkeys, breeding facilities there are expanding rapidly and the numbers don't add up.
April 23, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Part two for @mongabay.bsky.social - we look at how monkey smugglers in #Thailand are likely supplying long-tailed macaque breeding farms in #Laos.
Despite a trade ban from CITES preventing Laos from exporting monkeys, breeding facilities there are expanding rapidly and the numbers don't add up.
Despite a trade ban from CITES preventing Laos from exporting monkeys, breeding facilities there are expanding rapidly and the numbers don't add up.
Reposted by Gerry Flynn
Climate TRACE shows you where and when greenhouse gas emissions are occurring.
Al Gore’s Real-Time Climate Data Just Went Live—Here’s Why It Matters
How Real-Time Climate Data from Climate TRACE is transforming emissions tracking—bringing transparency, speed, and accountability to global climate action.
www.forbes.com
April 22, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Climate TRACE shows you where and when greenhouse gas emissions are occurring.
Latest for @mongabay.bsky.social digs into the dubious data #Cambodia and #Vietnam are providing to global wildlife trade regulator CITES regarding the trade of endangered long-tailed macaques. The demand from US biomedical research firms is driving prolific monkey smuggling syndicates across SEA.
Report alleges criminality in Cambodian, Vietnamese monkey trade
BANGKOK — Many long-tailed macaques imported into the United States from Southeast Asia were likely poached from the wild and then sold as captive-bred to medical research institutions, a recent repor...
news.mongabay.com
April 21, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Latest for @mongabay.bsky.social digs into the dubious data #Cambodia and #Vietnam are providing to global wildlife trade regulator CITES regarding the trade of endangered long-tailed macaques. The demand from US biomedical research firms is driving prolific monkey smuggling syndicates across SEA.
"Investigative journalism has been hit really hard and wildlife journalism has never been a priority of mainstream media outlets. People still tend to think of these as stories about just animals, but they’re not."
Across Southeast Asia elements of criminality often overlap, threads worth pulling.
Across Southeast Asia elements of criminality often overlap, threads worth pulling.
Creating a New Nonprofit Outlet to Investigate Wildlife Crime
With legacy media stepping back from the space, three veteran reporters decided to create a new outlet dedicated to wildlife investigations.
gijn.org
April 19, 2025 at 9:04 AM
"Investigative journalism has been hit really hard and wildlife journalism has never been a priority of mainstream media outlets. People still tend to think of these as stories about just animals, but they’re not."
Across Southeast Asia elements of criminality often overlap, threads worth pulling.
Across Southeast Asia elements of criminality often overlap, threads worth pulling.
Reposted by Gerry Flynn
These factoids from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment were all drawn from research published before 2023. It's remarkable just how much all of these indicators have accelerated over just the last two years.
April 16, 2025 at 3:02 AM
These factoids from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment were all drawn from research published before 2023. It's remarkable just how much all of these indicators have accelerated over just the last two years.
Another attack on the journalists at Tempo, although it's yet to be confirmed whether this DDoS attack is linked to the magazine's coverage of online gambling. This comes after the publication was sent a severed pig's head and a bag of dead rats.
#HoldTheLine
#HoldTheLine
Tempo Hit by Massive DDoS Cyber Attacks Following Online Gambling Coverage
DDoS attacks have nearly reached 3 billion requests after Tempo's coverage of online gambling.
en.tempo.co
April 15, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Another attack on the journalists at Tempo, although it's yet to be confirmed whether this DDoS attack is linked to the magazine's coverage of online gambling. This comes after the publication was sent a severed pig's head and a bag of dead rats.
#HoldTheLine
#HoldTheLine
Reposted by Gerry Flynn
Thai authorities should immediately release and drop the groundless charges against Paul Chambers, a leading Thai studies scholar.
This baseless prosecution poses a serious threat to academic freedom and free speech in Thailand.
This baseless prosecution poses a serious threat to academic freedom and free speech in Thailand.
Thailand: US Scholar Detained on Royal Insult Charge
Thai authorities should immediately release and drop the groundless charges against Paul Chambers, a leading Thai studies scholar.
www.hrw.org
April 9, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Thai authorities should immediately release and drop the groundless charges against Paul Chambers, a leading Thai studies scholar.
This baseless prosecution poses a serious threat to academic freedom and free speech in Thailand.
This baseless prosecution poses a serious threat to academic freedom and free speech in Thailand.
This feels like a bit of mid-week mid-tier good news, but given Trump's authoritarian credentials and paper-thin skin, I'm not seeing this as an absolute win yet.
AP wins reinstatement to White House events after judge rules government can’t bar its journalists
A federal judge has ordered the White House to restore The Associated Press’ full access to cover presidential events.
apnews.com
April 9, 2025 at 8:51 AM
This feels like a bit of mid-week mid-tier good news, but given Trump's authoritarian credentials and paper-thin skin, I'm not seeing this as an absolute win yet.